What is the Day of Atonement?
By Kelly McDonald, Jr.
In Hebrew, Yom Kippur means Day of the Covering. This was the day in ancient Israel when God covered the sins of the people so that His presence could be among them. This day also has rich meaning for Christians.
Yom Kippur can easily be overlooked or underappreciated even by Christians who observe the day. The first reason for this oversight is that it is a fast day. Thus, people tend to look forward to it being over with rather than embracing the day. Secondly, many people do not have a deeper understanding of the day’s importance.
Every feast day has unique aspects to it. For instance, during Passover and Unleavened Bread we eat bread made without yeast. For seven days we abstain from all yeast products. On Shavuot or Pentecost, we wave the two loaves of yeast bread. On Trumpets, we emphasize the blowing of the ram’s horn or shofar. During Sukkot or Tabernacles, we look forward to fellowship with Elohim and each other for eight straight days.
The uniqueness of each feast day helps us to learn about its meaning and prophetic significance. Yeast represents sin during the Passover Season, but during Shavuot it represents the Kingdom of God. The emphasis on the shofar during Trumpets connects us to prophetic events relating to the end of this age. The emphasis during Tabernacles is the age to come where Christ rules for 1,000 years.
Let’s breakdown the meaning of Yom Kippur so that we can embrace that time of fasting and its importance for our relationship with God. An overview concerning the observance of this day is found in Leviticus 23:
26 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath” (Lev. 23:26-32).
In these verses, God gives us more details about this feast day. First, it is called the Day of Atonement, which can also mean day of the covering. Second, it is a holy convocation, which means a gathering of covenant people. Third, it is a day in which we are to afflict ourselves. This is another way of expressing that it is a fast day (more on fasting later in this article). Lastly, it is an annual Sabbath, which means a day in which we do not work.
In Leviticus chapter 16, God gave Moses a very detailed ceremony that the priests were to carry out every year on the Day or Atonement. After consecrating himself, the high priest had to sacrifice an animal for his sins and that of his household. Remember that the Old Covenant high priest was human and therefore had to repent first and foremost. The blood of this animal was applied to the altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant in the earthly tabernacle.
The high priest then took two goats. Lots were cast for the goats and one goat was chosen for ‘the Lord.’ This particular goat was sacrificed it for the uncleanness, transgressions, and sins of the people. Its blood was applied in the same way as the bull.
The second goat, also called Azazel, was taken and had the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the people confessed on it. It was chased by a chosen person into the wilderness. In this way, the iniquities of the people were taken away from them. Afterwards, other sacrifices were offered. When these events were finished, Atonement was complete.
The Day of Atonement and Jesus
In Colossians 2:16-17, we learn that the feasts foreshadow the body of Christ. When Jesus came to earth, He suffered and died for the sins of the world (John 1:29, 3:16). When the early believers watched His suffering, death, and resurrection, they realized that He was the atoning sacrifice – not just for one nation but for the whole world (Rom. 3:25).
Jesus lived a perfect life, so He did not have to offer a sacrifice for Himself as did the high priests of the Old Covenant. He offered Himself once for all mankind. After the resurrection, Jesus ascended to the Father to take His blood into the Heavenly tabernacle. He placed His blood on the greater altar of incense and Ark of the Covenant which is in Heaven. By doing this, He became our High Priest and our sacrifice. The New Testament Scriptures explain these details.
“26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore…” (Hebrews 7:26-28).
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17).
“23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:23-26).
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Due to humanity’s rebellion and sin against the Father, Jesus died to redeem mankind. The Old Covenant Day of Atonement covered the people’s sins and served as an annual reminder. Jesus’ sacrifice allows our sins to be forgiven and forgotten.
“16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16-17).
Because Christ took His blood into Heaven, those who receive Him are reconciled to the Father (2 Cor. 5:18). This allows us His redeemed people to a place of standing in the Father’s Kingdom and be seated in Heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). We now belong to the Heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-23).
Thus far, we have reviewed several aspects of the Day of Atonement for Christians. First and foremost, we reverence and remember the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins and the sins of the world. Secondly, we acknowledge that He ascended to Heaven after the resurrection to place His blood in the Heavenly Temple. Third, we rejoice in our reconciliation to the Father. Fourth, we celebrate that we have a High Priest who lives forever to intercede on our behalf. Fifth, the atoning work of Jesus in both the earthly and heavenly realm has granted us access to an eternal destiny.
Future Prophetic Event
There is also a future prophetic event connected to this day which has yet to happen. Recall from the Old Covenant Day of Atonement that there were two goats addressed by the high priest. The first was slain for sin, which represents Jesus’ suffering for our sins. The second goat, called azazel, had sin confessed over it, but it never paid the price for sin. What could this second goat represent?
Consider that the second goat had sin confessed over it, but it never paid the price for sin, which is death. In the beginning, the serpent, which is satan, deceived mankind into sin. Since then, satan has been involved with the ongoing deception and temptation of mankind. He is the father of all lies (John). Due to his part in corrupting humanity and the world, sin is irrevocably joined to his vessel. However, he never pays the price for sin.
In Revelation 20:1-3, satan will be chained and put into the Abyss before the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Like the second goat, he will be sent outside of the camp.
“1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Rev. 20:1-3).
What about Fasting?
Over the years there has been debate concerning fasting on the Day of Atonement. In Lev 23:26-32, God said it was a day to afflict our souls. What does that mean? This is a reference to Atonement being a fast day.
Here are three counter references from other parts of the Old Testament that confirm the phrase “afflict your soul” is clearly connected to fasting.
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance” (Ezra 8:21).
“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom” (Psalm 35:13).
“Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours” (Isaiah 58:3).
The next question is – what kind of fast is proclaimed for Atonement? History will give us confirmation of the kind fast that Jewish and Christian people undertook in the time of Jesus.
History of Fasting
Jewish and Jewish and Christian people in the first century called Atonement “The Fast.” Early Christians practiced this day as well. “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them…” (Acts 27:9).
Philo, a first-century Jewish writer, discussed Atonement being a fast defined as an abstention from food and drink (Special Laws, 1.186-187, 2.193-203, On The Life of Moses, 2.23-24).
“…the all-wise Moses saw with the most sharpsighted eyes and so proclaimed the fast a feast and named it the greatest of feasts in our ancestral language, ‘a Sabbath of Sabbaths’…” (Special Laws, 2.194).
“Again, who is there who does not pay all due respect and honour to that which is called ‘the fast,’ and especially to that great yearly one…But on this fast it is not lawful to take any food or any drink, in order that no bodily passion may at all disturb or hinder the pure operations of the mind; but these passions are wont to be generated by fulness and satiety, so that at this time men feast, propitiating the Father of the universe with holy prayers, by which they are accustomed to solicit pardon for their former sins, and the acquisition and enjoyment of new blessings…” (On the Life of Moses, 2.3-24).
He also calls the day ‘The fast’ as did the early disciples of Jesus. Josephus, another first-century Jewish historian, identifies Atonement as a fast day (Antiquities 3.10.3).
The Hebrew word for fast is tsum, and it means to cover the mouth. On this day, we do not eat or drink any food. Other sorts of fasting promoted by modern teachers do not bear witness with the Scriptures, language, or history of the day.
Deeper Reasons for Fasting
The God of the Bible is the ultimate author. He designed everything with purpose and meaning. This is one reason why the feasts of the Lord are so beautiful and intricate. They have so much meaning placed there by the Creator. Fasting on Atonement has deeper reasons beyond just going through the motions. Consider the following:
Jesus had to die because of our sins. Fasting is connected to repentance in the Bible (I Samuel 7:6, I Kings 21:25-27, Jonah 3:5-9, Joel 2:12). Our abstention from food and water is a recognition of our part in the death of the Son of God.
In the Bible, people fasted for the death of flawed humans (I Sam. 31:13, 2 Sam. 1:12, 12:16). How much more should we fast for the death of our Lord? This is especially true since He is our High Priest and Savior.
Our need to fast on this day goes back to the beginning. Humanity’s sin originates with the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3:1-7). As we fast on Atonement, we are reminded that our original sin was connected to eating what God prohibited.
Conclusion
On Atonement, we are reminded that we have hope to be free from sin, hope to have a purpose, and hope for a future which we did not earn (Rom. 5:1-5, Eph. 2:8-10). How did this come about? Because Jesus died as our Atonement sacrifice. This should cause us all to reflect and be humbled before God.
As we consider the fasting aspect of Yom Kippur, we should embrace and appreciate this practice. It is connected to the greatest price ever paid to give us the greatest future ever conceived.
God bless!
Kelly McDonald, Jr. served as BSA President from 2016-2023. He presently serves as the Pastor of David’s Tent Christian Fellowship www.davidstentjackson.org.